Proposed Marijuana Regulatory License

Currently in Washington State, the State Liquor Control Board (LCB) regulates the production and sale of
recreational marijuana, but there are not similar regulations for medical marijuana. While the state legislature
is expected to address this disparity in the 2015 legislative session, a new system regulating medical marijuana
is unlikely to be in place until 2016. Seattle Mayor Edward B. Murray has heard the concerns of patients,
community groups and neighborhoods that have been dealing with the consequences of an under-regulated
industry and believes more could be done to ensure that medical marijuana is safe, legal and available. To
address these concerns, the City is considering introducing a new regulatory license for the medical marijuana
industry with the framework described below.

Current Regulatory Differences: Recreational and Medical Marijuana

Recreational Marijuana Regulations
Licensed producers, processors and retailers
Strict limits on siting of any marijuana business and
distance from areas children are present
Criminal and financial background checks of all
business owners and investors
Testing of product for purity and presence of fungus
or mold

Medical Marijuana Regulations

N/A
City regulations regarding zoning and historical
districts
N/A
N/A

Goals in Regulating Medical Marijuana

1 Ensure safe, consistent access for patients that require medical marijuana.
2 Reduce impact on neighborhoods that are overburdened with medical marijuana dispensaries.
3 Clarify laws regarding medical marijuana for all involved including patients, dispensaries, processors
and law enforcement.
4 Develop enforcement and complianceprocedures that are not incarceration focused.

Proposed Entities Subject to Regulatory License

Proposed Distance Requirements

Class 1 Collective Garden

Collective gardens with dispensaries

Class 1 Collective Gardens* and Processors: 500 feet

from childcare centers, elementary and secondary
schools, public transit centers, libraries, public parks,
pubic recreation centers and facilities.
* Class 1 Collective Gardens must also be 1000 feet
from other Class 1 Collective Gardens.

Class 2 Collective Garden

Collective gardens without dispensaries
Processors
Edible & Concentrate Product Manufacturers
Cannot provide products directly to patients
but can provide products to Class 1 Collective
Garden and contract for services to Class 2
Collective Gardens.
I-502 Licensees
All producers, processors and retailers
licensed by WA State Liquor Control Board.
No requirements outside of obtaining the City
marijuana regulatory license.

Proposed Testing Requirements

Class 1 Collective Gardens must test

marijuana flower that they distribute.

Processors responsible for testing edible and

concentrate products.

Must test for levels of THC, THCA, CBD and

presence of mold, fungus, pesticides and
heavy metals.

Proposed Requirements for Processors

Cannot provide products or samples directly

to patients.

Can only obtain marijuana from WA

collective gardens.

Proposed Requirements for Class 1 Collective

Gardens

No free samples of any products to patients.

Can provide products to Class 1 Collective

Gardens and contract for services with Class 2
Collective Gardens.

Can only work with other WA collective

gardens and processors. Must disclose list of
all vendors.

Criminal background check for owner.

Criminal background check for owner.

Employees must be at least 21.

Employees must be at least 21.

Must allow inspections by authorized city staff.

Must allow inspections by authorized city

staff.

Must validate qualifying patient authorization

with issuing health care provider.

No delivery without storefront. One day waiting

period before delivery service can begin.

Must install an alarm system on premises.

Can process and package flower product.

Packaging cannot have cartoon characters or

mimic known brands.

Restrictions on signage and advertising.

No consumption allowed on premises.

No selling marijuana products at fairs, trade

shows or farmers markets.

Edible product manufacturers must follow

Washington State and King County
public health codes.

Must install alarm system on premises.

Concentrate product manufacturers limited to

procedures authorized by WA State LCB.

Packaging must be opaque, re-sealable and

cannot have cartoon characters or imitate
known brands.

Restrictions on signage and advertising.

Proposed Requirements for Class 2 Collective Gardens

Maximum 10 members and 45 plants on an individual parcel of land.

15 day waiting period before a new member can join after a member leaves.

Not subject to zoning requirements of Class 1 Collective Gardens.

No dispensary operations, no signage or advertising.

Not required to test marijuana for purity or strength.

Proposed Penalties for Violations

$500 fine for first time violation of most rules, $1000 fine for subsequent violations within 12 months.

$1000 fine for first time distribution to persons without valid authorization, $1500 fine for subsequent
violations within 6 months.

$1500 fine for distribution to minors under 21 without a valid authorization, $2000 fine for subsequent
violations within 6 months.

Suspension and revocation of license for repeated or egregious violations of rules.